Proform Treadmill Comparison/Opinion

[raelyn]

There are 2 Proform treadmills at a sporting goods store near my work that I have my eye on, the Performance 600i & the ZT6.  Currently, there is only a $100 price difference.  I'm curious if the extra $100 is worth it or if anyone has any experience with either.  Some background; I'm getting this for home use, mostly walking & maybe some jogging, I'm just under 5 feet tall.

Side by Side Spec Comparison

The main differences (as far as I can tell):

	600i	ZT6
motor	2.75 CHP	2.5 CHP
speed	0-12 mph	0-10mph
incline	0-12%	0-10%
belt	20"x60"	20"x50"

[WendyB]

Did you get on them?

If not you must as that will be the deal breaker. You need to feel comfortable on it

[raelyn]

Yes, I have stood on both, checked them out as much as possible (they aren't plugged in, so I can't aurally try them out).

[USAF-Larry]

I have an older ProForm Treadmill, @raelyn, and it has been really reliable - when I bought it, it came with an extended warranty which includes annual in-home maintenance. They come to the house once a year to check it out, lube it, and calibrate it.  IMHO, this was an important selling point for the store when I bought it.  BTW, I think the ZTx series has been discontinued, and replaced with the xxxi series.

The most important features of the treadmill for me are the Incline, the Belt Width, and Belt Length. If the belt is too narrow, you will find your feet catching the side rails and the distance between the hand rails too close, and if the belt is too short you will find yourself stepping on the front guard or going off the back.  Since you are just under 5' tall, you probably have a shorter stride length, so the length of the tread may not be that important for you, but you need to check it out.

If it were me I'd go with the one with the higher incline, since I find that important in my workout. Even a light walking workout needs a 3% incline to simulate the wind resistance when walking, but I like to do hills so I work up to 10% or more.  If you can afford it, check out their Pro 1000 treadmill. But, as @WendyB, said it needs to feel comfortable to you.